Reel



June 2, 1936. FQUKAL 2,043,197

REEL

Filed June 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 2, 1936. A. FOUKAL 2,043,197 REEL Filed June 20, 1955 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Gum/mug flntlzaigyi'alllial,

Patented June 2, 1936 REEL Anthony Foukal, Cleveland, Ohio, assignol: to Truscon Steel Company, Youngstown, 01110 Application June 20, 1935, Serial No. 27,592

8 Claims.

In reels of large size, particularly those on which electric cables are wound for storage and transportation, it is the common custom to make them of wood, but wood structures often do not withstand the hard usage and strains to which they are subjected and it has been proposed to make thesame of metal. Metal structures of this character, however, so far as I am aware, have been very heavy and weight is an important factor because of shipping costs as well as the initial expense of material and manufacture.

.The primary object of the present invention is to provide a reel built up of metal parts that will withstand both the hard usage to which these articles are subjected and also the inherent strains due to the pressures occasioned by the wrapping of the cable on the reel and the expansive forces against portions thereof after the cable is in place.

Another and important object is to provide in connection with the above, a structure that is relatively light in weight, so that it is not materially heavier than a wood reel in the smaller sizes and in the larger sizes is actually less in weight than the wood reels.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Figure 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively sectional views on the lines 4-# and 5-5 of Figure 1.

In the embodiment disclosed, a hub member is employed, which is shown as made up of three parts, though this may be modified to a considerable ex'tent. As illustrated cast hub ends 6 are provided, having outstanding annular flanges 1, these hub ends being connected by a tube 8 welded to the portions on the inner sides of the flanges I, as indicated at' 9. Radial spokes l0, shown as formed of structural channel metal and with their parallel flanges inset, have the inner ends of said flanges welded to the outer sides of the annular flanges 1, as shown at I I. It will be understood that these spokes I0 may be formed of structural metal of other shapes than channel irons. The two sets of spokes, in effect, constitute spaced reel heads. Mounted on the outer terminals of each set of spokes is a rolling rim in the form of a ring. This ring in the present structure is formed of angle iron having a horizontal flange l2 thatconstitutes the tread, and rests against the ends of the spokes and an inset flange I3 that engages in cut-away portions M of the side flanges of the the cable.

spokes. These rolling rims are suitably welded in place.

Connecting the corresponding spokes of the spaced heads are tie members 15 shown as structural channel metal (though their forms may be of different configuration), the ends of these ties being engaged in the channels of the spokes and welded to the flanges thereof, as indicated at [6. The tie members are preferably located about midway between the inner and outer ends of the spokes and the heads of the reel are made complete by side shields I! in the form of disks of sheet metal that extend from the tiemembers l5 to the outer ends of the spokes and are secured against the inner sides of said spokes.

Mounted on the tie members l5 and surrounding the entire set thereof are supporting rings l8 which are welded into the corners formed by the tie members l5 and the shields l'l. These rings l8 serve to reenforce the heads and also act as surrounds the same and constitutes the inner or bottom wall of the drum. While in the present embodiment the rings l8 are illustrated only at the spokes, it will be understood that where the drums are large and more support is needed, they may be placed at different points along the tie members l5.

On certain of the spokes on the outer side of the heads are placed suitable fastening loops 20, and at one point between adjacent spokes, one of the shields I1 is cut away at 2| to provide an opening for the passage of the end of the cable. The otherwise relatively sharp end walls of this opening may be covered by protective wings 22 (see Figure 4), so as to prevent any danger of cutting The wings preferably have inset flanges 23 by which they can be welded in place. Alongside this opening the adjacent spokes are provided with oppositely arranged loops 24 to provide suitable means for securing the cable end. A cover 25 for the opening 2| and the end of the cable that is fastened in place between the adjacent spokes, is provided, this cover being of sheet metal and fitting over the spokes, being secured thereto in any suitable manner. I

It will be evident that this provides in efiect a skeleton structure of metal that is relativelylight in weight and one in which the parts are so related that strains due to the winding ofthe cable or its pressure when in place in the drum is adequately taken care of. Moreover the peripheral structure is sufficient to withstand blows and '20 supports for the cylindrical drum wall l9 thatstrains, as when the loaded reel is dropped to the ground, even on the peripheral portion of one head. The parts moreover are simple and may be made up of suitable structural elements of standard commercial formation.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim, is:

1. A reel for cables and the like comprising a flanged hub member, spaced sets of substantially radial spokes of structural metal welded to the flanges and constituting heads, tie members of structural metal extending across the space between the heads and welded to the spokes, drum supporting bars in the form of rings mounted on and surrounding the tie members, and a substantially cylindrical sheet metal drum wall supported on and surrounding the rings and tie members.

2. A reel for cables and the like comprising spaced heads composed of metal'spokes of channel form, and tie members between the heads having their ends engaged in the channels of and secured to the side flanges of the spokes.

3. A reel for cables and the like comprising spaced heads composed of metal spokes of channel form and metal tie members of channel form bridging the space between the heads and having their ends engaged in the channels of the spokes and welded to the opposite side flanges of said spokes.

4. A reel for cables and the like comprising spaced heads composed of metal spokes of channel form, and metal tie members of channel form bridging the space between the heads and having their ends engaged in the channels of the spokes and welded to the side flanges of said spokes, bars in the form of rings on the tie members adjacent to the spokes, and a sheet drum wall supported 'on the tie members and rings andsurrounding the same.

5. A reel for cables and the like comprising a hub member having spaced annular flanges, spaced heads composed of substantially radial spokes of channel metal welded to the flanges, tie bars of channel metal extending across the space between the heads and having their ends located between the flanges of and welded to the spokes, rods in the form of rings secured to the tie members and surrounding the same, walls on the inner sides of the spokes outside the tie bars, and a substantially cylindrical drum wall mounted on the rings.

6. A reel for cables and the like, comprising a hub member having spaced annular flanges, substantially radial spokes of channel metal welded to the flanges and forming heads, tie members of channel metal bridging the space between the heads and having their ends engaged ,in the channels of the spokes and welded to the side flanges of said spokes, end walls on the inner sides of the spokes and outside the tie members, rod rings located wholly outside and surrounding the tie members, a sheet drum on the outer sides of the rings between the spokes, and rim rings of angle metal having inset flanges located alongside and welded directly to the ends of the spokes of the respective heads.

7. A reel for cables and the like comprising spaced heads including spokes, each having spaced flange portions that lie in planes disposed longitudinally of the axis of the reel, tie members connecting corresponding spokes and having spaced end portions that lie transversely alongside the flange portions of the spokes, means for securing the end portions of the tie members and the spoke flanges together at their intersections, and a drum 0 wall supported on the tie members.

8. A reel for cables and the like comprising spaced heads including spokes, each having spaced flange portions that lie in planes disposed longitudinally of the axis of the reel, tie members connecting corresponding spokes and having spaced end portions that lie transversely alongside the flange portions of the spokes, said end portions being respectively welded to the flanges of the spokes at their intersections therewith, and a drum wall supported on the tie members.

ANTHONY FOUKAL. 

